ISLAND OF LOST SOULS

US, 1932, 71 minutes. Black and white.
Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Bela Lugosi, Kathleen Burke.
Directed by Erle C. Kenton.

The Island of Lost Souls is the first film version of H.G. Wells’ story The Island of Dr Moreau, focusing on a mad scientist, madder than Doctor Frankenstein, who on his island conducts experiments on humans and animals, making manimals. Wells was reflecting on the human condition and the animal aspects of human life as well as humanity. The film was remade in the 1970s with Burt Lancaster and Michael York. It was remade in the 1990s with Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando giving a quite absurd performance as Dr Moreau.

Charles Laughton had come to Hollywood from the London stage and was to win an Oscar the next year for The Private Life of Henry VIII. Richard Arlen was one of those stalwart heroes of American films of the 20s and 30s. Bela Lugosi has a small role as the Sayer of the Law.

The film was directed by Erle C. Kenton, using Catalina Island off Los Angeles for the Island of Lost Souls. Kenton had begun work directing in 1916 and was to continue through small-budget films to television until 1960.

1. The popularity of horror films in the 1930s? This film in that tradition? Charles Laughton from The Old Dark House? Bela Lugosi from Dracula and other horror films? The quality of this production?

2. The location photography, Catalina Island standing in for the Island of Dr Moreau? Black and white photography? Musical score?

3. The horror films of the 1930s, shock, monsters – and suggestions of horror rather than blatant presentation of horror?

4. The work of H.G. Wells, his stories adapted for the screen? His philosophical outlook? On humanity?

5. The opening, the ship, Edward Parker, marooned, the captain of the ship? Putting him overboard? His coming to the island?

6. The character of Edward Parker, on the ship, the captain, the background of his relationship with Ruth? The fight, the punch? On Dr Moreau’s island? The hero, his interactions with Dr Moreau, his discovery of the creatures, his reaction? The Panther Woman and her humanity? His reaction, the dangers? The rescue? The girl, the end and safety? Edward Parker as hero?

7. Ruth, pleasant, her love for Edward? Coming to his rescue? The interactions with the Panther Woman?

8. The creatures, animals, manimals? The makeup and visuals? Their experience, the biology? The moral issues? The rebellion against Dr Moreau? His death?

9. Dr Moreau and Charles Laughton? On the island, his creatures? Welcoming Edward Parker? The captain, the doctor? His laboratories, the detail, the cruelty? His elitist manner? His death?

10. Mr Montgomery, his assisting Dr Moreau, his change of heart at the end?

11. The naval background? Boats at sea? Captains and clashes, Captain Davies, Captain Donahue? The role of the consul?

12. H.G. Wells and his fable about a human trying to ‘play God’? The creatures and rebellion against their maker? Human heroics saving the day?